“But I came all the way with you,” said he, “and I saw no such creature as you describe.”
Upon this she stopped and turned back and looked again at him, and said: “You came all the way? I wonder where this fearful being has gone!”
He smiled, and replied: “I know where he has gone.”
“Ah, youth and friend, will he now leave me in peace,” said she, “and let me return to the home of my people?”
“No,” replied he, “because he thinks very much of you.”
“Why not? Where is he?”
“He is here,” said the youth, smiling, and laying his hand on his own heart. “I am he.”
“You are he?” cried the maiden. Then she looked at him again, and would not believe him.
“Yea, my maiden, I am he!” said he. And he drew forth from under his flowing mantle the shrivelled serpent scales, and showed them as proofs of his word. It was wonderful and beautiful to the maiden to see that he was thus, a gentle being; and she looked at him long.
Then he said: “Yes, I am he. I love you, my maiden! Will you not haply come forth and dwell with me? Yes, you will go with me, and dwell with me, and I will dwell with you, and I will love you. I dwell not now, but ever, in all the Waters of the World, and in each particular water. In all and each you will dwell with me forever, and we will love each other.”